The volcanic ash plume continued to drift across the darkening sky. Remi had assured everyone we were safe and the lava was rolling harmlessly into the ocean. We’d walked down the quiet streets, following the Guardians to a nearby beach park. The Powers stayed behind, covering bodies and taking them away. Most of them were Gibbor, including Gracie’s father and mother, who had placed herself between Ian and some of the children, giving them a chance to escape.
Most people sat at the picnic tables the Guardians had grouped in the center of the park. Some drifted onto the beach, clustering around one of several bonfires. The smell of barbecue wafted through the air. We looked like tourists enjoying a feast on the beach rather than people who’d been in a battle with demons straight out of hell.
The picnic had been Calder’s idea. He’d hoped the light would draw out any survivors on the island. I doubted it. The tall glass buildings were dark and towered over the beach in eerie silence.
If people were afraid of the angels before, they were even more so now. Anxious eyes followed the angels warily as they served food from several buffet-sized tables. They spoke in hushed whispers, not knowing who to trust, especially after Ian and his Archangels turned against them. They watched Remi carefully as he and Blaze talked with my father.
Lucy and Raffi worked with Mom and Aunt Marmie, serving the hungry crowd. Lucy’s face vacillated between having a brave smile and bawling tears of relief. She’d catch her breath, blink hard, and touch Mom’s hand as if she couldn’t believe she was here.
Tristan, Calder, Jo, and I huddled on the beach, watching over Nacho as he shivered and moaned. Calder had wanted to take us to the ship’s infirmary. Nacho wasn’t getting better, and Jo and I had several burns from the volcanic gas and ash. Remi wasn’t allowing any guests back onto the ship until Zac and the Powers completed their search for Ian’s followers who may have stayed behind. So, Tristan and Calder had gone onto the ship to get medical supplies.
Jo sobbed as she gently dabbed a wet cloth over Nacho’s battered and bruised face. It shined with fever. Whatever Dorian had done to him, it had overtaken Nacho’s body.
Hali sat with Gracie; the boys, and her girls nearby. Hazel and Javi, seeming to have matured within the last couple of hours, shuffled between the younger siblings and Gracie, offering sweets, urging them to eat.
“How is he?” Hali asked, placing a tray of cool drinks next to us.
“Calder gave him acetaminophen for the fever, but he’s still burning up,” I said. “I don’t understand why he’s getting worse.”
Hali knelt beside me. Her fingertips had barely touched Nacho’s cheek when she jerked them back. “I’ve seen this before.”
“What is it? Can you fix it?” Jo asked, looking hopeful.
Hali looked warily at Tristan and Calder.
“It’s okay, Hali. We know about your…past,” Tristan said. “We also know how you fought to save Karenna more than once. You’re among friends here.”
Her eyes darted to her girls. “They don’t know.”
“We won’t tell them,” Calder said. “Promise.”
“Thank you.” She let out a breath of relief. “It’s the mark of the Dark Ways. I thought I’d heard someone say the words, but I wasn’t sure. Eljo use it against the Gibbor. For the Nephilim, it weakens our strength for a moment. For humans, it attacks them from within until they…”
“Until they what? Until they what, Hali?” Jo’s voice was frantic.
Hali gazed at Jo, tears filling her eyes. “Until they die.”
“No, Nacho! I can’t lose you too,” Jo sobbed, throwing herself over Nacho. “I should’ve listened to you.”
Tristan placed his hand on her shoulders, gently peeling her off Nacho. “You didn’t know. None of us did. Let me try to get him to drink some water.”
“He warned me about Dorian when we first started dating. I didn’t listen.” Her hoarse voice grew louder as she spat the words. “I’m so stupid. Did you see him? Dorian’s eyes turned black and he sprouted wings. Black wings! He was with them all along!” She winced, clutching her throat.
Calder was immediately by her side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, speaking in soothing tones. “Don’t say that. You’re the smartest person I know. Even we didn’t know Dorian and his friends were Eljo.” He reached for the tray of drinks and, taking a cup, forced her to take one. “Sip this.”
She shook her head, pushing it away.
“Please, Jo. Please.” Calder held her gaze as he brushed a finger over her cheek. She finally relented and took the drink.
Tristan frowned and put down the nearly full cup. Nacho barely took a sip.
“Is there anything you can do? A stronger medication?” I asked Hali.
“I don’t know if—wait here! I have an idea.” Hali scrambled to her feet and headed to the buffet tables.
“I hope whatever she has planned works. Nacho’s one of the good ones,” Tristan said as he sat beside me.
I opened the first aid kit and took out a tube of antiseptic cream. With the adrenaline no longer rushing through me, the pain from the burns on my face and arms intensified.
“Here,” I said, tossing the tube to him.
He caught it and smiled. “We’ve been through this before.”
“So you know what to do.”
“Yes, but I’m not sure if I should. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I can take it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Okay, but let me know if the pain’s too much.”
I turned to Jo, focusing on her. “If you blame yourself for Dorian, you have to blame me for Hunter. I was duped too. Hunter almost had me—ouch!”
“Sorry. This isn’t going to work,” Tristan sighed, tossing the tube back into the kit.
“Sure it will. Just dab it on real quick.”
“I can’t stand to see you in pain.”
“Then close your eyes.”
Tristan chuckled. “Pragmatic as always.”
“Well, we’ve got to do something for the burns. Jo’s look worse than mine. I’ll do it myself.” I reached over him for the kit.
“Hold on, Karenna! I have something better, and it’ll help Nacho too,” Hali called out as she rushed back with Raffi.
“Oh! That’s a great idea,” Calder said. “That is, if you’re up to it, Raffi.”
“Up to what?” I asked.
“Healing you.”
“Oh my god! I forgot Raphael is your father.”
Jo’s eyes brightened. “Raphael, the angel of healing?”
“The one and only,” Raffi replied. “I told Karenna I hadn’t taken the advance—whoa!”
Jo yanked him down, shoving him toward Nacho. “Help Nacho first.”
Raffi’s eyes widened as he looked down at Nacho. His face was unrecognizable with puffed up eyelids and cheeks. “I’ll try my best. I’m not as good as Val but—” He stopped abruptly. Pain washed over his cherub-like face. He cleared his throat, forcing a smile as he hovered his hands over Nacho’s face. “I can do this. No problem.”
I opened my mouth to apologize to him when Hali touched my arm lightly, whispering, “It’ll only make him feel worse. Let him focus on his job.”
I nodded. Hali had brought him over for more than just helping heal Nacho and our burns. Poor Raffi. He’d lost his sister and had been betrayed by his mentor. I gritted my teeth, wondering if Ian had anything to do with what had happened to Val.
Following Hali’s lead, I changed the subject. “So, what was with the Eljos’ wings? Do they all have them?”
“Only those who chose to join Belial,” Hali said.
“Humans call them demons,” Tristan added. “It’s the same for anyone who joins Belial. The Dark Ways leave their mark. There’s no way to avoid it.”
“Ari’s wings were the same pristine white,” Calder pointed out.
Tristan frowned. “He still betrayed us, and he almost got Karenna and Jo killed.”
Nacho moaned as Raffi moved his hands down to Nacho’s stomach. He’d only been at it for a couple of minutes and Nacho was already starting to look like himself. The swelling was gone, and the bruises were barely visible.
Nacho held his breath then slowly released it, his face finally at peace. Jo placed a palm on his forehead and smiled. “The fever’s gone. Thank you, Raffi.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, looking pleased with himself. “He’ll probably sleep for the rest of the night, but he should be okay in the morning. May I?” He raised his hand, hovering it over the worst part of her blistered arm.
“Is it going to hurt?”
“A little.”
She held her arm out to Raffi. “Good. Have it. I deserve it.”
Calder frowned. “You deserve nothing of the sort. Be gentle, Raffi.”
Raffi nodded. Eyes tensed, lips moving, he carefully skimmed his hands over Jo’s arm. I watched in awe as the blisters slowly disappeared.
“I placed my family in danger. I got Nacho hurt. I hurt…” Jo paused, biting her lip. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I hurt you.”
Calder and Jo gazed intently into each other’s eyes as if the world around them had disappeared. Calder blinked, his Adam’s apple bobbing as emotions appeared to overwhelm him.
“I’m sorry,” she mouthed.
Calder shook his head and gently caressed her cheek. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
“Erga,” Hali said, snapping her fingers. “Dorian was using Erga on you. The Eljo are very skilled at it. They can manufacture a feeling of yearning or desire from anyone they target. He did that to you.”
Calder’s face brightened. “That makes perfect sense. See, Jo, you had no control over what you were doing when it came to Dorian.”
“I don’t know,” Jo said. “Was that what Hunter, I mean Ari, did to Karenna?”
“I’m not sure if angels can do Erga,” Hali said. “It’s possible for Dorian to have taught Ari.”
My eyes darted to Tristan. He shifted uncomfortably. “We know how to use Erga. I’ve made the mistake of using it myself.”
Jo’s brow furrowed as she turned to me. “So, if Ari pulled the same Erga trick on you, why didn’t you fall for it? I mean, it didn’t look like you felt the need to be by his side all the time like I did with Dorian.”
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I’ve had experience with it before.” I could feel Tristan tense next to me. “It didn’t feel as intense.”
“Erga is most powerful when there is some feeling of affection coming from the target,” Hali explained. “That could explain the difference.”
Calder’s smile faded. I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know he was thinking the spell had worked because Jo truly cared for Dorian the way I cared for Tristan.
Jo lightly touched Calder’s leg. “I was with Dorian, but I never really like him. I know that sounds messed up, but it’s true.”
“Humans have no control against it at all,” Hali quickly added.
“And Karenna is Gibbor, so there’s that to take into account.”
“You’re human,” Calder sang softly as he placed his hand over hers.
“Flesh and blood.” Jo raised an eyebrow and started to hum the song “Human” by the eighties rock band Human League. He chuckled then leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose.
Tears pricked my eyes. I was so relieved to have my Jo back. By the looks of it, so was Calder.
“There. I’m done.” Raffi stood and stepped back, admiring his work. Jo’s skin was smooth and flawless. “Karenna, you’re next.”
After Raffi finished working his magic on me, Nacho woke up ravenous. Jo and Calder propped him up with several blankets while Hali went to get him a plate of food. Tristan and I worked our way through the beach, picking up empty cups and plates. Although my skin looked healed, it itched like mad. I had to stop and scratch every couple of minutes.
“No scratching,” Tristan said, catching my hands. “You’ll only make it worse.”
“I can’t help it. I itch everywhere. Even my nose itches. Do you have anything to make it stop?”
“Hmm, I think I do.” Keeping hold of my hands, he placed my forearm against his chest, rubbing his skin against mine, relieving the itch without scratching with fingernails.
“What are you—oh, that feels so good.” My heart pounded as he continued brushing my skin against his, creating a delicious friction between us. Lifting my other hand, he stepped forward, sandwiching my arms between our chests. He leaned forward, his blue eyes simmering as they held mine.
“You said your nose itched,” he said, his voice husky.
My breath caught in my throat. All I could do was nod.
He dipped his head. His warm breath lapped my lips as he pressed his nose against mine. Ever so slowly, his nose slid against mine. With each passing circle, his lips lightly brushed over mine, teasing me mercilessly and sending my body in a frenzy. He rubbed the stubble of jaw down over my neck and into the sensitive hollows of my collarbones, making my knees quiver and dip.
“How about your cheeks?”
“Yes,” I said, trembling.
He paused, his lips hovering over mine, our breathing accelerating until he finally tilted his head and pressed his cheek against mine. His head moved in circles, his scruff rubbing against my skin, leaving a tingling sensation that sent electric shivers down my spine. As Tristan lit my body ablaze with his touch, a new itch, I desperately tried to ignore, became more and more pronounced.
My heart violently pounded against my chest, ready to explode. I lost all sense of where I was. I pressed myself deeper into him, trying to capture more of the exquisite sensation.
“Excuse me if my announcement is interrupting you two.”
Startled at the sound of Remi’s voice, I yanked back. At some point, everyone had gathered on the beach. They circled Remi and my parents, who stood on a bench, looking like they were in the middle of giving a speech. Every single one of them had their eyes on us.
Tristan took one look at my father’s surprised face and took a step away from me. “I was scratching her itch.”
Dad scowled. Lucy elbowed Raffi, who looked clueless. She whispered frantically in his ear. He guffawed.
“I mean, she asked me to fix her itch.”
“Oh my god,” I muttered, mortified as the crowd howled.
“Sorry. I’ll shut up now.”
“As I was saying…” Remi glared, shaking his head before turning back to the crowd. “Ari and his scouts were sent undercover to gather as much information as possible in order to find the safe haven. As you can see, this is not the place. There are still many more miles to travel.”
The crowd groaned.
“I understand this is a hardship for many. We will do what we can to make you as comfortable as possible. I’d also like to assure you, the traitorous angels are gone, so we are now able to join the others at the safe haven. There are at least a half a dozen ships on their way there as we speak.”
The crowd vibrated with enthusiasm. I looked at Tristan, excited there were more survivors and relieved our family was safe now.
Tristan stared back at me with a sad expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“I’d like to personally thank Rowan and Lucia Morgan for the great sacrifice they made,” Remi continued. “Their subterfuge allowed the band of scouts to believe they had found the safe haven as well as reveal the traitors among us. As much as my heart breaks over Ian’s betrayal, I was forewarned of this possibility. Lucia, we thank you for your insights and your courage in sharing them with us. Rowan, we thank you for your skill in building the safe haven and ships, that to this day, are hidden from Belial.”
The crowd broke into applause. Lucy beamed. My parents had been in on this all along. They hadn’t betrayed the angels. I wasn’t the daughter of traitors.
“We will sail forth in the morning. But take heed, we are not out of danger yet. I have no doubt Ari and Ian will direct Belial here. Belial will bring his full army, and they will use every means necessary to hunt us down. Because of this, we must remain vigilant. However,” Remi’s eyes drifted down to Tristan, “we have a plan in place that may stall Belial’s army.”
After Remi’s announcement, the crowd dispersed. Some went into a nearby hotel the Guardians had prepared. Others strolled along the beach. I stood by Tristan, waiting for him to talk. He was quiet, his face grim. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He gazed out into the horizon, watching the waves churn in the dark waters.
“Well, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“I’m working up to it,” he said quietly.
“Is this about the scratching comment? That was embarrassing, but it’s not the end of the world. I mean, this is the end of the world.” I waved my arms, motioning to the post-apocalyptic skyline of empty buildings and the cloud of volcanic ash.
He gave me a half smile. “Funny. No, it’s not about that.”
“Yo, Karenna! Enough with the kissy face. Dad’s calling a family meeting.”
I groaned at the sound of Lucy’s not so subtle voice. I’d been planning to introduce Tristan to them once everything had quieted, but she wasn’t making it easy.
“I think you’re being summoned,” Tristan said, darting a wary look at my parents.
“You haven’t met my parents yet. Come with me.”
“I don’ think that’s a good idea. Maybe later.”
“Are you sure?”
“Karenna!” My father’s voice called out.
“Very. I’ll wait for you here.”
When I reached my parents, Dad pulled me to him, giving me a bear hug. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. I missed you, Dad,” I said, wanting to cry.
“Don’t forget me,” Mom said.
“I missed you too,” I cried as they both encircled me.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you,” Mom said. “Did Marmie show you the video?”
“Yes. But why? Why did you send me to Vegas when Lucy…?” I cried harder, remembering how helpless I’d felt when I thought I’d lost Lucy.
“Yeah, that really sucked,” Lucy said. “I was stuck in the tree house with Blaze. It was really hot in there. And, by the way, just so you know, angels don’t use deodorant.”
Dad chuckled. “Let’s sit. We’ll explain everything.”
We settled around a nearby picnic table. Lucy snuggled next to Mom. I sat beside Dad. I took turns touching Mom’s hand and Dad’s shoulder to make sure they were real. I’d thought I’d never see them again.
Angling his body toward Lucy and me, he tented his hands on the table and began. “We always knew the day would come, the end of this world. We had every intention to meet up with Remi in Vegas when we saw the signs. But one day Ari showed up and changed everything.”
Mom took a tissue from her dress pocket and dabbed the corners of her eyes. “We didn’t know what to do. We didn’t know who to trust. Not when your lives were at stake.”
“He promised us no harm would come to you or Lucy if I worked for Belial.”
“So you joined them,” I said.
“Not really,” Mom said.
“But you said you did in the video,” Lucy pointed out.
Mom squeezed Lucy to her. “We told a white lie to protect you, honey. We’re so sorry to have done that.”
“Remember when we went on the Hawaiian cruise for our anniversary?” Dad said. “Well, that’s not where we went. This is the first time we’ve been to Honolulu.”
“I don’t understand. What about all those postcards you sent us?” I asked.
“Marmie had one of her friends send them,” Mom said.
Lucy whistled. “Aunt Mamie lied and didn’t break down about it. It’s a miracle.”
“Don’t tease, Lucy,” Dad said. “She felt bad about doing it, but she knew she had to. Your mother and I had to meet with Remi at the safe haven to make it ready. It was at that time Remi had the idea for us to make the deal with Ari.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Cool, my parents were double agents. Wait until I tell Gracie. That’ll show—no that’s not cool. I know, I’ll tell Raffi.”
Dad frowned. “We were reluctant double agents, Lucy. This wasn’t a game for us. Although we had no plans to follow through on our deal with Ari, I did make a few swords for him, though nowhere near enough to supply Belial’s entire army. Some of them are plain swords, not that Ari or Belial will know until they try killing an angel. Remi and I agreed to lead Ari here to make them believe this was the safe haven. No one knew about the plan, not even Blaze.”
“That’s why Blaze went to save Lucy,” I said. “But why did you send me to Vegas?”
“We…we…” Mom broke down, bawling uncontrollably into her tissue.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Lucy said. “Blaze didn’t smell that bad.”
Mom laughed between sobs.
“You don’t have to explain,” I said, patting Mom’s back. “We trust you.”
“We want you to know,” Dad said. “We made a mistake. Your mom knew you and Jo were planning to sneak off to Vegas. She’s always been able to sense what is going to happen before it happens. We thought we were keeping you safe by putting you near Remi and Lucy with Marmie. We were so sure Ari would come after us. We don’t know how he found out where you were. Everyone thought you were going to Dallas.”
I was quiet for a moment. Then realization suddenly hit me. “Dorian.”
“That rat,” Lucy muttered.
“You said it, sister.” I fist bumped her before continuing. “Jo told Dorian where we were, and he told Ari. He was the only other person who knew. And he’s Eljo.”
“Speaking of the Eljo…” Mom began, but then stopped when Dad furiously shook his head. “Anyway, despite Blaze’s lack of human hygiene, we are forever grateful to him.”
“Are you all friends now?” Lucy asked.
“I wouldn’t say friends. More like people with a mutual goal.”
Lucy suddenly sat up, her eyes darting around the beach. “I didn’t see Blaze on the beach. Have you seen him?”
“He had to leave to take care of some business,” Dad said.
“Where?”
“I can’t say. Not yet. What I can say is Blaze is helping with the plan Remi mentioned. We should have safe passage to the haven thanks to Tristan.”
“Tristan?” My stomach tied itself into knots. This was one of those “other shoe dropping” type moments. This had to be why Tristan had suddenly withdrawn into himself and gone silent. “What’s the plan?”
“Tristan’s giving Phanuel what he’s always wanted. He’s going home.”